Steirischer Herbst 2019 Festival Adopts György Lukács's 'Grand Hotel Abyss' Metaphor in Graz
The 2019 edition of Steirischer Herbst, an annual arts-and-theater festival in Graz, Austria, ran from September 19 to October 13. This iteration borrowed its title from Hungarian Marxist philosopher György Lukács's metaphor 'Grand Hotel Abyss.' Lukács originally employed the term critically to describe the Frankfurt School's theoretical focus during the interwar era, targeting figures like Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and Jürgen Habermas. He viewed them as an intellectually decadent elite preferring discourse over revolutionary action. The festival, established in 1968, used this philosophical reference as its central theme. The review, published by ARTMargins Online and authored by Myclef Laun, examines the festival's engagement with these ideas. It questions whether contemporary cultural discourse is similarly doomed to prioritize theory over meaningful change. The piece reflects on the festival's programming and its critical stance toward intellectual detachment.
Key facts
- Steirischer Herbst 2019 was held from September 19 to October 13, 2019.
- The festival took place in Graz, Austria.
- Its title 'The Grand Hotel Abyss' references a metaphor by György Lukács.
- György Lukács was a Hungarian Marxist philosopher, aesthetician, and literary critic.
- Lukács used the term pejoratively to critique the Frankfurt School.
- The Frankfurt School figures targeted included Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse, and Jürgen Habermas.
- The critique focused on their preference for theory over action during the interwar period.
- Steirischer Herbst is an annual arts-and-theater festival that began in 1968.
Entities
Artists
- György Lukács
- Theodor Adorno
- Herbert Marcuse
- Jürgen Habermas
- Myclef Laun
Institutions
- Steirischer Herbst
- Frankfurt School
- ARTMargins Online
Locations
- Graz
- Austria
- Hungary